FLT ATTENDANT RPT; MD80; DFW-ORD; PLTS HAD DIFFICULTY IN PRESSURIZING THE CABIN; FLEW AT LOWER ALT TO ORD. PAX AND CABIN CREW HAD EAR TROUBLE.

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APPROX 30 MINS AFTER TKOF; I FELT THE ACFT BEGIN TO DSND TO A LOWER ALT; THEN LEVEL OFF. THE CAPT CAME OVER THE PA ADVISING US/PAX THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING A DIFFICULTY WITH THE PRESSURIZATION OF THE CABIN AND THAT EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT; HOWEVER; WE WOULD BE MAINTAINING A LOWER CRUISING ALT TO CHICAGO. FLT ATTENDANTS #1 AND #2 WERE TOLD BY THE CAPT THAT EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT. WHAT I EXPERIENCED WAS EAR ACHE/POPPING AND NAUSEA. PAX WERE QUIET; WITH ONLY 1 PERSON COMPLAINING OF EAR DISCOMFORT TO ME. AFTER WE LANDED AND I WAS OFF THE PLANE; I FELT BETTER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE ALTS THAT THEY HAD FLOWN AT; BUT THAT EVERYONE (CABIN CREW AND PAX) WAS HAVING PROBS WITH THEIR EARS THE WHOLE FLT TO CHICAGO. FLT ATTENDANTS #1 AND #2 WENT TO THE COCKPIT TO COMPLAIN AND WERE TOLD THAT THE CREW COULDN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT AND THAT WHEN THEY GOT TO CHICAGO; THE PLANE WOULD BE TAKEN OTS AND WORKED ON. SHE SAID THE FLT TOOK A BIT LONGER THAN NORMAL; BECAUSE OF FLYING AT THE LOWER ALT.